A simple question about serving position (picture)

[ogruskie]

I can't form coherent sentences today (I'm exhausted), so instead I got a picture to illustrate what I need to say.

http://aycu08.webshots.com/image/48007/2000166891225888897_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2000166891225888897)

Everybody I play with serves from the location where the red X's are. I even see pro's serving from the area. But I'm just curious, is it...uuhh..."legal" for me to serve from where the blue O's are? Or do I HAVE to serve from the center line? Because today I had simply amazing serves from the area where the blue O's are, and I wanted to know if I'm allowed to serve from there in actual tournaments.

[FEDEX1]

ya thats legal to serve from the blue circles

[ogruskie]

Thanks for the reply.

Well, time to unleash my new kick-ass serve on some chumps tomorrow.

[racquet_jedi]

Most pros (assuming we are talking about singles play) will serve around the red x's for strategic reasons...

Example, you are standing where one of the blue o's are, you hit a serve, you're opponent hits a return right to the other side of your court, that's a lot of distance between you and the ball...

For doubles, however, if you were serving at the position of one of the red x's, your opponent can hit an angled cross-court return to your alley, which has a high chance of being a winner, if their execution of it was right-on...

[SFrazeur]

It would be a mistake to serve from the doubles area in singles as it open a large area of the court that you will not be able to easily cover that your opponents can hit easily hit into. You will get a better angle to serve a slice into the ad side from the deuce, if your are right handed, but again it opens you to punishment. The further out you are the more distance you might need to cover after the return.

-SF

[ogruskie]

Most pros (assuming we are talking about singles play) will serve around the red x's for strategic reasons...

Example, you are standing where one of the blue o's are, you hit a serve, you're opponent hits a return right to the other side of your court, that's a lot of distance between you and the ball...


Believe me, my coach has grilled my ass with drills (running from one end of the baseline to the other, and hit a successful return), so I'm pretty sure I've got it covered. On the other hand, I haven't tried this technique in actual matches yet, so I can't say whether it works or not.

[dpfrazier]

Everybody I play with serves from the location where the red X's are.
Even in doubles?

In fact, it's even legal to serve out as wide as the edge of the alleys in doubles. Makes for some nasty angles on slice and kick serves...

[Mansewerz]

Even in doubles?

In fact, it's even legal to serve out as wide as the edge of the alleys in doubles. Makes for some nasty angles on slice and kick serves...

Is it really?

and why is ad court spelled "add"?

[Djokovicfan4life]

Is it really?

and why is ad court spelled "add"?

Haha, that's funny. I guess he DID say he was exhausted.

[Loco4Tennis]

when i started playing, people where told to serve from the outside X's in doubles so not to hit your partner up at the net, now adays though, i see people even my own doubles partner who serves from where they are used to, as if he was playing singles tennis, which naturally forces me out of the ideal volley spot, makes no sense to me, he says he is not going to hit me, that he has enough control for that,, yeah right, if he had enough control, why is he not paying federer in some turnament??
while i do see the advantage in strategic situations to change things up with the formation, the general starting possition needs to be respected

[TNT16]

In fact, it's even legal to serve out as wide as the edge of the alleys in doubles.

Is that correct? (Genuine question would like to know answer).

[dpfrazier]

Is that correct? (Genuine question would like to know answer).
From the USTA Rules of Tennis...

USTA Comment 18.1: Where may the server stand?
In singles, the server may stand anywhere behind the baseline between the imaginary extensions of the inside edge of the center mark and the outside edge of the singles sideline. In doubles, the server may stand anywhere behind the baseline between the imaginary extensions of the inside edge of the center mark and the outside edge of the doubles sideline.